The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-05
soNrrHrsn nr rHf 30.

SOMETHING OF The PAST.
Twenty years sgO Junction City
was fhc city between Topeka and
Denver. The Union Pacific was but
a few miles from that place. and
stage coaches hustled OFF each day
therefrom in all directions. The
Hale House, then a miracle in the
way Of hostelries as compared with
it, competitors in the western part
Of the state, was crowded with guests
arriving from all parts Of the
country t0 look up homes in the new
west. CanvHs-top wagons were
numerous ON the streets. aIsJi in fact
motley crowds of people were all
about you. The Mexican greaseF,
the r.. Riley soldier, the regulation
cowboy. the tanned and slOuehy
Fanchman. aud the fair-skinned and
weli-dressed eastern man were ali
mixed up together. The Junction
city people counted big upon their
prospects then, aud the place was
comparatively as well advertised I'm
the east a. Wichita Is now. From
that city westward settlements were
very scattering. Al Chapman Creek
there WAS a stage station. store and
quite a pretentious log house. The
Lambs were living where Detroit
now stands. and our first recollection
Of meeting the Lamb boys was IN
a stage coach while they were ON
their way % Sallua to eddie for a
dance" which took place in Tom.
Going's hOtel-then Salinas chief
inn. The building still stands al
joining the knights Of Pythias build
ing. At Abilene, where Mr.. Lebold's
fine mansion now stands-west Of
the classic Mud creek-stOOd Tim
Hersey's log hotel. then famous for
good buffalo steaks. antelope roasts,
well-cooked bacon. and excellent
corn bread. Tins place WAS also a
stage station. There was some kind
Of a boarding house at Sand Spring
IA good spring, too, where many
an overland traveller cooled his
heated brow. At Solomon there
was a half-iinished store building,
built We believe by Lyman Field,
and perhaps small hotel kept by
GeO. Hall.
solomon was prOphesied by some
10 be the future great" Of those
days. 1t certainly possessed every
advantage in location. RecOllee-
tions Of Stanton's ferry at the Solo
mon river crossing, and Schippel's
upon the Saline, are vivid. Salina
was a very forlorn, struggling viii
lage of four or five hundred people
In 1861. The cowboy era was
just commencing; Mexican trains
were here; Indians rpeaceful) were
frequently seen upon the streets;
Indian (savage) forays were hap
pening but few miles away; bufla-
10 browsed upon the sweet grass Of
hills and valleys a days journey
distant; antelope were everywhere;
wolves and coyotes were bold and
rather too social; the country for
the most part was a wilderness, q
few farmers clinging to the streams,
and gathered principally about Sa-
lima. Bavaria was distinguished for
a brewery, where a poor quality of
beer made the Salina hlOOds and
the "bull whackers" moderately
happy before its effects died away.
Brookville had not beeL thought Of. Z
Ft. HaTker was a stirring place In a
military point Of view. Ellsworth 1
was just being founded and entering I
upon a history as tragical and awful I
n Julesburg i'm her blOOdiest days. I
And from there west until TT. Hayes I.
was reached, there never was a will
derness 'mOre hOwiing.' Go I
through this same stretch Of country /
to-day What a contrast Is present I
ed! 4 desert then; paradise now: 4
"a land thiekly peopled, well cultl-
waited farms, fine orchards, cxPen-
sive houses and barns; handsome /
cities-with all the luxuries and |
OF the east, and a net I
work OF railroads all about them.
Surely the citizen Of this country
twenty years ago has seen marvel
ous changcs-as full of magic and as
wonderful as an Arabian tale. And
still the country is mot yet made!"
it, future is still to be more wonder
ful than the past. The new settler
OF to-day will see greater changes
and more marvellous developments
in the next twelve years than was
ever dreampt Of by the most imagi-